Ignition apparatus



A. C. KLECKNER.

IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICAIION FILED SEPT. 18. 1920.

1,395,429. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lA. C. KLEGKNER.

IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8' 1920.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n I IIN; A \\NI NINQ @MALAWI A. C. KLECKNER.

IGNITION APPARATUS. APPLlCATloN FILED SEPT. I8. 1920.

1,395,429. 4 Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. KLECKNER, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WEBSTER ELECTRICCOMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

IGNITION APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters intent.V

y' l Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

'had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Iy invention relates to certain improvements applicable to those severaltypes and styles of internal combustion engine ignition apparatus thatmay be comprehensively classified as unitary oscillating magnetoignition equipments. While ignition equip- 'ments of the general classmentioned differ somewhat, inso far as details of construction areconcerned, they all comprise a plug carrying make and break electrodes,and an oscillating magneto together with its appurtenant operatingspring, or springs, push finger, or equivalent part that is engaged byan engine driven actuator, and a .trip finger that serves to actuate theelectrodes in timed relation to the magneto; the magneto and itsaforesaid appurtenant parts being mounted upon a supporting shelf orbracket that is carried by the plug; the plug, the magneto and itsaforesaid appurtenant parts, and the shelf or bracket being applicableto and removable from an engine as a unit.

More specifically my present invention contemplates: Y

1st. The provision of an ignition equipment of the class mentioned whichcomprises improved and extremely satisfactory means for cocking themagneto.

2nd. The provision of an ignition equipment of the class mentionedywherein the magneto, bracket, the push finger and the trip finger areso constructed and arranged that they may be applied to various stylesof plugs, thereby enabling me to eliminate the necessity for carrying instock a multiplicity of different brackets or a multiplicity of push andtrip finger combinations. In other words, I provide an arrangement ofmagneto, bracket, push and trip lingers that is' standard for allinstallations and which may be applied to plugs of various styles andsizes. f

3rd. The provision in a magneto ignition equipment of the classmentioned of a composite structure which is operatively connected withthe magneto rotor and which provides the push finger, the trip finger,the means for disengaging the push finger from the engine drivenactuator, and preferably the means for attaching the operating springsto the magneto rotor, the several parts of this composite structurebeing so constructed and arranged that they may be assembled and securedtogether in a great variety of ways'in order to meet the requirements ofdifferent installations.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear as thefollowing detailed description progresses. v

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of myinvention,

Figure l is a top plan view of a unitary oscillating magneto ignitionequipment constructed in accordance with my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.' l andlooking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 -is a disassembled view in perspective of the several parts ofthe composite structure which provides the push finger, tripfinger, the.means for disengaging the push finger from the engine driven actuatorand the means for attaching the operating springs to the magneto rotor.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating how the said composite structure functionsto effect the disengagement of the push finger and engine drivenactuator and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary Vertical sectional view taken onthe line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts througho t theseveral views.

For the purpose of c nvenience in description, I have used numerals todesignate the various parts of the unitary magneto ignition equipmentand letters to indicate the actuator and its appurtenant parts which mayproperly be considered part of the en- In the drawings, at 10, I haveillustrated the usual plug which is provided with the iange l1l and witha ledge 12. The plug, ange and ledge are cast as a single integral part,the plug being adapted to project into an opening in an engine cylinderandarranged to be held in' position by suitable bolts which pro'ectthrough. the bolt holes 13 13 in the fiange 11. Carried by the plugcasting, are the usual stationaryand movable electrodes indicatedrespectivelyat 14 and 15. The stationary electrode 1s 1nsulated from theplug casting and is provided with a cli-p 16 which is arranged tocoperate with a conductor leading fromY the insulated terminal of themagneto. The movable or rocking electrode is provided with the arm 18which, at the proper instantK in the operation of the magneto, 1sengaged by the magneto trip linger to effeet the separation of theelectrodes. Projecting laterally from the arm 18 is a pin 19 andinterposed between the pin 19 and a cotter pin-engaging in an aperturein the plug ledge 12, is a tension spring 20, 1t being thel function ofthis spring normally to hold the movable or rocking electrode inengagement with the stationary electrode and to oppose separation of theelectrodes. Interposed between the arm 18 and the plug casting is acompression spring 21, the purpose of which is to prevent the escape ofpressure around the movable electrode by holding the beveled shoulder atthe inner end of the electrode tightly in engagement with acorrespondingly shaped seat in the plug casting. This last mentionedexpedient is well known in the art to which my invention relates andneed not be illustrated in detail.

I contemplate that the size and conformation of the plug casting ,andthe disposition 'of its several parts, hereinbefore specilicallymentioned, will vary considerably in di'erentinstallations. Forinstance, different engines re uire that the plug 10 have a variety ofdi erent sizes and shapes. In some lnstallations, it is necessary thatthe ledge 12 be disposed vertically instead of horizontally in'orderthatthe magneto may be carried in the position most suitable to theparticular requirements 'of the engine with 4which it is used. A greatnumber of variations in the plug casting and in the construction andrelative arrangements of its several parts which may be required 'indifferent installations, will at once suggest themselves .to personsskilled in the art to which my mvention relates. However, despite therespects in which the plug castings for use with various engines maydiffer, I find it desirable to provide each plug casting with vahorizontally, or otherwise suitab y disposed ledge 12.

'I shall now describe a magneto and appurtenant devices which may bemore 'orless standard and which may be readily applied to for use inconnection with any plug provided with a ledge of the kind herein-vbefore mentioned.

The magneto generator is illustrated at 22v and while the particulartype and construction of the magneto generator per se, is not important'in so far as my present invention is concerned, I prefer that themagnete shall be of the well known Webster tripolar type. A magneto ofthis ty e is shown inllgatent No. 1,180,489, dated pril 25th, 19

The magneto shown in the accompanying drawings comprises side plates23-23 which provide bearings for the magneto rotor or inductorghaft 24.It will be noted that one of the side plates provides an exceptionallylong bearing for the rotor shaft, this long bearing being afforded by ahollow boss25 which projects outwardly away from the side plate. Theboss 25 projects freely through an aperture in a plate 26 which isrigidly secured to the adjacent side plate 23 by a plurality of screws27-27.

While I have Shown the plate 26 as being formed separate from themagneto side plate and r1gidly attached thereto byscrews 27-27, it willbe understood that the plate 26 might, if desired, be made to constituteo ne of the magneto side plates. This variation in the arrangement is soobvious that it Aneed not be illustrated.

that the le ge 12 ofevery plug structure, de-

signed to be used as a part of an equipment of my lnvention, will beprovided with suitable bolt holes Ispaced to correspond to the boltholes in the flange 26", to the end that any plate 26 and partscarriedthereby may be applied to the ledge 12 ofany one of the plugstructures. r

l shall now describe the composite oscillatmg structure which is securedupon the magneto rotor shaft and `which provides:

1st. The push finger.

2nd. The trip finger.

3rd. The means for disengaging the push finger from the engine drivenactuator at the properinstant in the cycle of engine operation, and p4th. The means through which the operating springs are connected withthe rotor shaft.

lThe ,several principal parts of this composite structure consist ofsheet metal punchings which are perhaps most clearly illustrated at 30,31, 32 and 33 in Fig. 3. Each of these punchings is' provided with acentral aperture 34.

Referring now, specifically, to the punching 30, it willbe noted that itis somewhat elongated and is provided at its ends with `two openings35-35, these openin s being 36-36 as shown in Fig. l. Also formed in thepunching 30 are nine apertures 37-37 which are equally apart and whichare disposed in the circumference of a circle concentric with theopening 34.

The pu'nch1ng31 is provided with a truly circular peripheral surface andis providedv the opening 34 of punching 32.

Punching 33 is provided with the arcuate surface 41 which is struck uponthe same radius as the periphery of the punching 31. Furthermorepunching 33 is provided with a tooth or finger 42 which, as willpresently appear, constitutes the trip finger which Y effects theseparation of the makeand break electrodes at the proper instant -in thecycle of operation. Moreover punching 33 is provided with nine apertures43-43 spaced 40 apart and located inthe circumference of a circleconcentric with the opening 34 in the said punching 33.

Attention is directed to the fact that all of the openings 37, 38, 40and 43o-f the several punchings are disposed equal distances from thecenters of the circles in which they are arranged so that a'plurality ofapertures in contiguous punchings may be brought into register when thepunchings are concentrically arranged as shown in Fig. 5. The comv-nposite structure comprising the punchings 30 to 33 both inclusive issecured together by three rivets 45 which extend through registerinapertures in the several punchings.

Di erent installations require different relationships and differentangular adjustments between the push finger 39 and the trip linger 42. Y

It'will be seen that with the punchings 32 and 33 in the relationshipshown in Fig. 3 whenever an' aperture inthe punching 33 is brought intoregistry with an aperture in the punching 32, two other apertures in thepunching 33 will also register with apertures in punching 32. Thus withthe punchings 32 and 33 in the relationship shown in' Fig. 3, they arecapable vof being given nine differ-l ent angular adjustments. However,the

punchings may be placed in three Vrelation-- ships dierent from the oneshown in Fig. 3. For instancewith the 1punching 32 in the position shownin Fig. 3 the punching '33 might be changed side for side. Again withthe punching 33 in the position shown in Fig. 3, the punching 32 mightbe changed side for side. Again both of the punchings might be changedside for side from the position shown in Fig. 3.

Since the apertures in the punchings 32 and 33 permit nine angularadjustments for each of these relationships, itwill be seen that I amenabled to get thirty-six different adjustments between the push finger39 and the trip finger 42.

Since there are nine apertures in the punching 30 it will be understoodthat any one of the thirty-six different combinations of unchings 32 and33 may be given nine diffrent angular adjustments with respect to thepunching 30.

Since punching 31 is truly circular and is provided with three aperturesdisposed 120 apart, it will be seen that the apertures in this punchingwill always cooperate with the rivets regardless of the relativeadjustments between the punchings 32 and 33 or between these lastmentioned punchings and the punching 30.

After the several punchings 30 to 33 have been properly assembled andhave been secured together to form a composite structure of the kindshown in Fig. 5, the opening afforded by the several central apertures34 is converted by means of a suitable tool into a conical bore so thatthe composite structure may be slipped over the tapered end of the rotorshaft as shown in Fig. 5. The composite structure is, furthermore,preferably provided with a suitable keyway adapted to cooperate with aWoodruff or other key carried. by the rotorshaft. The structure isconveniently held upon the shaft by a suitable nut as shown.

It will be noted ythat the arms 26.2l of the stamping 26 are providedwith roller posts 50 which are fitted into suitable openings in the saidarms. Interposed between the rollers carried by the roller posts 50 andthe rollers carried'by the rollerpost 36 of the punching 30, are thecomparatively heavy springs 51-51 which normally hold the compositestructure and the magneto rotor in a definite angular position` withrespect to the field structure of the magneto.

t I may suggest that when it is found desirable to p ace the punching 30as close to the vstampmg' 26 as has lbeen illustrated in F 1g. l, aportion of the metal of the un'ch#v ing 30`A at the edges of its endsnext a 'acent the-springs is cut away (as shown in ig. l) in order thatthe endsof the punching may not interfere with the free operation of thesprings. vThis is, of course, an expedient which may or may not beemployed as conditions require.

The engine driven actuator comprises a push 'rod A having one endthereof ad'ustably threaded into a casting B, a nut being provided tomaintain the desired adjustment between the push rod A andca'stiis ingB. The casting B is provided with a circular bore `in which is fitted aneccentric D which is, in turn, rigidly mounted upon i the shaft E. Theshaft E is journaled in a bracket F and is provided with a hand piece GWherewith to. turn the eccentric D with respect to the casting B. It isthe purpose of the eccentric to permit the operator to advance andretard the occurrence of the spark. If desired,'the casting B may berovided with a suitable spring pressed ball adapted to engage in eitherone of two recesses in the eccentric D so that the operator, withoutdifficulty, may quickly adjust the eccentric running The bracket F ismounted upon any suitable movingpart of the engine as, for instance,upon the exhaust valve operating rod indicated at I. The particularbracket shown may be secured at any desired position upon the rod I byset screws J-J. The tension spring K is desirably interposed between thecasting B and the bracket F, it being understood that this springnormally tends to move the casting `B and push rod A in a clockwisedirection as theparts are viewed in Fig, 2.

Secured upon that end of thewpush rod A opposite the casting B is awedge or cam member indicated at L. This wedge or cam is secured tothe hrod A1 by suitable rivets indicatedat It. will be noted that the wedgeorcam member embraces the end of the push rod and that the side portionsof the wedgel are inclined asfindicated at 1-1.

Normally, the sides-ofthe cam or wedge member L rest upon the arcuatesurfaces of the punchings 3,1 and 41 as is clearly illustrated in Fig.2. In this event, the end of 40 the push rod lies adjacent the pushfinger 39 as is also clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. In the operation ofthe engine, when the exhaust valve I is moved to .the right, .(Fig. 2),the push rod is also moved to the right. The end of the push rod engagesthe push finger 39 and moves the latter and parts connected therewith ina clockwise direction' (Fig. 2) thus cooking' the magneto rotor agamstthe tension of the operatin springs 51-51. Shortly after the push rodengages the push finger 39, the inclined surfaces 1-1 of the cam orWedge member L, engage and ride upon the arcuate peripheral surfaces ofthe. punchings 31 and 41. As a resultv of the coperation of the inclinedsurfaces of the wedge member with -the arcuate surfaces of the saidpunchings, that end of the push rod lwhich is in engagement with thepush finger is raised as it moves to the right (Fig. 2) At eration, thewedging action between the surfaces 1-1 and the arcuate surfaces of thepunchings 31 and 33 causes the push rod to be lifted out of engagementwith the push fingerl and when this occurs, the operating to its properpositions for starting andV the proper instant in the cycle of engineop-4 such that the trip finger 42 will effect the separation of theelectrodes at the instant when the peak of the current wave generated inthe magneto windings is attained.

It will be understood, of course, that the angle through which themagneto rotor is moved on its cooking movement may be regulated to anicety by the inclination of the surfaces 1--1 of the member L.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure-by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory push finger, anarcuate surface adjacent said push finger, said arcuate surfaceconstituting part of the circumference of a circle having the pushfinger axis as its center, and an engine-driven actuator arranged toengage and move the push finger, the actuator being provided with meansarranged to cooperate with said arcuate surface to disengage theactuator from the push finger when the latter has been moved through apredetermined-angle.

2. An ignition apparatus comprising an operating mechanism consisting ofan oscillatory push finger, means'fixed with respectv to the push fingerproviding an arcuate surface adjacent said push finger, and a push rodfor engaging said push finger, said arcuate surface being struck from acenter co- 4 incident with the push finger axis, said push rod providedwith a cam portion adapted to bear against said arcuate surface when thepushfinger is moved by the push rod', 110 the co-action of said camportion and arcuate surface serving to dsengage the push rod and pushfinger when the push nger has been moved through a predetermined angle;f

3. An ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory push finger, `meansfixed with respect to said push finger providing an arcuate surfaceconcentric .with the axis around which the push finger moves, and an 120engine-driven actuator arranged to engage and move said push finger, theactuator being provided with a cam portionwhich coacts with said arcuatesurface to disengage the actuator from the push finger when the 125latter has been moved through a predetermined angle.

4. An ignltion apparatus comprising' an oscillatory push finger, meansfixed with reuate surfaces, one on each side of the push finger, anengine-driven actuator arranged to engage and move the'push finger, andmeans on said actuator arranged to co-act With said arcuate surfaces todisengage the said actuator from the push finger When the latter hasbeen moved through a predetermined angle.

5. An ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory push finger, meansfixed with respect-to said push finger providing two arcuate surfaces,one on each side of the push finger, said arcuate surfaces beingconcentric With the axis of push finger movement,

an engine-driven actuator adapted to engage and move the push finger,and means carried by the actuator arranged to coperate with said.arcuate surfaces to disengage the actuator from the push finger when thelatter hasbeen moved through a predetermined angle.

6. An ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory push finger, means atthe side of said push finger roviding an arcuate surface concentric withthe axis of push finger movement, an engine-driven actuator arranged toengage and move the push finger, and means carried by the actuatorarranged to cooperate with said arcuate surface to disengage theactuator from the push finger When the latter has been moved through apredetermined angle.

7. An ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory push finger, anarcuate surface immediately adjacent said push finger, said arcuatesurface being struck from a center coincident with the push finger axis,an engine-driven actuator arranged to engage and move said push finger,and means carried by the actuator arranged to coperate with the arcuatesurface to disengage the actuator from the push finger when the latterhas been moved through a predetermined angle.

8. An ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory push finger, meansprovidingarcuate surfaces on opposite sides of the push finger, anengine-driven actuator arranged to engage and move the push finger, anda pair of cam portions depending from the actuator, each of said camportions adapted to cooperate with one of said arcuate surfaces todisengage the actuator from the push finger when the latter has beenmoved throulgh a predetermined angle.

9. n ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory member provided with apush finger, a second member fixed with respect to the rst, said secondmember being provided With a trip finger, and having an arcuate surfaceconcentric with the axis around which said members oscillate, anengine-driven actuator arranged to engage and move the push finger, andmeans carried by the actuator arranged to coperate with said arcuatesurface to disengage the actuator from the push finger when the latterhas been moved through a predetermined angle. y

l0. An ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory member provided witha push finger, a second member disposed immediately adjacent the firstand provided with a trip finger, said means being provided With aplurality of equally spaced apertures arranged in concentric circles ofthe same diameter, one of said members being provided With lessapertures than the other, and rivets extendingv through registeringapertures to secure said members together.

11. An ignition apparatus comprising an oscillatory and substantiallydisk-shaped member, provided With a push finger, a second substantiallydisk-shaped member disposed immediately adjacent the first and providedwith a trip finger, a plurality of equally spaced apertures in saidmembers, said apertures being arranged in concentric circles of the samediameter, there being less apertures in one of said members than in theother, and rivets extending through registering apertures serving toSecure said members together. Y

l2. In an apparatus of the class described, a composite oscillatorystructure comprising a member provided with a push finger, a memberprovided with a trip finger, and a member constituting a spring yoke,equally spaced apertures in eachA of said members., said apertures beingarranged in concentric circles of the same diameter, there being lessapertures in one of said members than in the other, and rivets extendingthrough registering apertures in said members to fasten the sametogether.

13. In an ignition apparatus, an oscillatory composite structure, springmeans normally retaining said composite structure in a definite angularposition, said composite structure comprising: a member provided with apush finger, a member provided with a trip finger and means for rigidlysecuring said members together in a plurality of relationships andrelative angular adjustments.

14:. In an ignition apparatus, an oscillator composite structure, springmeans normally retaining said composite structure in a definite angularposition, said composite structure comprising: a member provided with apush finger, a member provided with a trip finger and means for rigidlysecuring said members together in a plurality of relative angularadjustments.

l5. lin an ignition apparatus, an oscillatory structure comprising apush ringer, means carried with the push finger providing an arcuatesurface struck from a center coincident with the axis of push movement,a push rod mounted on a moving pivot, the other push rod being adaptedto enga e finger and being provided Wit a Wedge riding upon the arcuatesurface aforesaid, said'wedge and arcuate surface coperating todisengage the push r'od from the push finger substantially as, and forthe purpose, set forth.

,16. In an `ignition apparatus, an oscillatory structure comprising apush finger,

provided means carried with the push fingerproviding an arcuate surface,said arcuate surface being struck from a center coincident With the axisof push finger movement on a radius less than the distance from the pushfinger tip to the axis of push finger movement, a push rod mounted atone end on a moving pivot, the other end of the push rod being a pushrod mounted at one end onfa mov- -in pivot, the other end of the pushrod y' being adapted to engage the push finger and being provided With aWedge riding upon the arcuate surface aforesaid,said Wedge the push,-and arcuate surface coperating to disengage vthe push rod from the pushfinger substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.

18. An ignition apparatus of the class de- -scribed comprising anoscillating member provided with an arcuate surface struck from a centercoincident With the axis of said oscillatory member, a push fingerprovided on said oscillatory member, side members disposed one on eachside of said oscillatory member and secured thereto, each of said sidemembers provided with anarcuate surface struck .from the same center asthe' arcuate surface of the first mentioned member, but on' a shorterradius, a push rodhaving one end thereof mounted on a moving` pivot,-and its other end adapted to engage -said push finger, saidlastmentioned end of the pushl rod being provided with dcpending -Wedgeportions which rest upon the arcuate surfaces of the side members, saidAWedge portions coperating with the arcuate surfaces of the side membersto disengage the push rod from the push finger, and also, by lying onopposite sides of the first mentioned member, serving to retain the pushrod in operative relation to the push fin er. v l

n Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of Setember, 1920.

V ARTHUR C. KECKNER. Witnesses:

y E. H. LANGDoN, vN. A.. Bo'rsFoRD.

